Fastener-applying implement



June l, 1943. J. F. CAVANAGH FASTENER-APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed July 3,1941 Patented June 1, 1943 nasse FASTENER-APPLYING IMPLEMENT John F.Cavanagh, Providence, R. l., assigner to Boston Wire Stitcher Company,Warwick, 1t. E., a corporation of Maine Application July 3, 1941,Seriali No. 400,93)

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in stapling orWire-stitching implements and more particularly to Wire-stitchingdevices of the type having a pivoted gate for opening and closing theend of the staple magazine.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an implementof the type indicated with means for positively locking the gate inclosed position on the magazine.

Another object is to provide an 'implement of the type indicated withdetents for latching the gate in closed position on the magazine and amanually-operable member for positively locking the detents in latchedengagement.

Another object is to provide an implement of the type'indicated with acam-member manually operable into engagement with a shoulder on the gatefor positively locking the latter against movement to prevent release ofthe latching detents.

Another object is to provide a cam-member of the type indicated with afriction detent engageable with the side of the gate to resist movementof the cam-member to gate-releasing position.

Still another object is to provide gate-locking means which are ofsimple and compact construction to adapt them for economical manufactureand which may be easily and quickly manipulated to lock or release thegate.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred form of the invention, by Wayof example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a fastener-applying implement incorporating thenovel features of the present invention and showing the gatelockingmember operated to positively lock the gate in closed position on themagazine;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the forward end of the magazine with the casingshown as partly broken away to illustrate the gate-locking member ingate-releasing position;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the gate raised to releasethe latching detents on the gate and magazine;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the gate rocked to open theforward end of the magazine;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing themounting for the gate to adapt it for rocking and vertical slidingmovement comprising a pin extending through the magazine and thegate-locking member;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view on line G- of r Cil -the rough surfaceof the work.

Fig. 1 showing the friction detent on the gatelocking member inengagement with the side of the gate to resist its rocking movement onthe pivot-pin;

Fig. 7 is a detailed perspective view of the gate-locking member; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on line 8 8 of Fig. 1 showing themagazine mounted in the base of the casing and illustrating the spacedrails constituting the core on which the fasteners are supported.

Certain fastener-applying implements are provided Wth a gate normallyclosing the end of the magazine and rockable away therefrom to open thelatter to receive a supply of fasteners. In one form of construction thegate is mounted on the magazine for pivotal and vertical slidingmovement and is releasably latched in closed position by the engagementof detent slots or lnotches in its bottom edge with detent-lugs on themagazine. A spring acting against the top of the gate is adapted todepress the latter to engage the notches in the gate with the detentlugson the magazine and the gate may be opened 'Y by lifting it verticallyagainst the action of the spring to disengage the detents and thenrocking the gate on its pivot. Such implements operate quitesatisfactorily in most instances but on certain kinds of work the gatemay become unlatched during operation. For instance, when a plier typeof tacker is used for attaching articles to a rough surface the operatormay hold the implement inclined with respect to the work and drag thebottom edge of the gate against Such use of the implement sometimescauses the gate to move vertically against the action of the spring tothereby disengage the latching detents.

The present invention relates generally te the provision of amanually-operable means for positively locking the gate in closedposition on the magazine. The gate and magazine are provided with theusual latching detents and the gate is formed with a shoulder engageableby the manually-operable locking means to prevent vertical slidingmovement of the gate necessary to disengage the locking detents.Although the locking means may take other forms it preferably 'comprisesa plate rockably mounted on the extended end of the pivot-pin for thegate and having a cam-face disposed eccentric to the axis of thepivot-pin and adapted to engage or release the shoulder on the magazinewhen rocked from one to the other of two positions. The locking memberis preferably provided with a iinger-piece to facilitate its manualoperation and a friction detent engageable with the side of the gate toresist rocking movement tending to release the gate.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is shown as applied to animplement of the type illustrated and described in United States LettersPatent to John E. Cavanagh, No. 2,137,642, isued November 22, 1938. Itwill be understood, however, that the invention may he applied to othertypes of fastener-applying implements having pivoted gates. Suffice itto state herein that the implement comprises a hollow casing 2 adaptedto rest against the work and mounting fastener-applying mechanismtherein. The casing 2 has an opening 3 to provide for the insertion or"the fingers therethrough and a handlever d pivotally mounted on the`casing for op.- erating the fastener-applying mechanism vwhere-- by toadapt the implement to be held and cperated inone hand.4

inthe base of the, casing 2 is a channeleshaped magazine?) for ,holdinga supply ioi xfasteners, herein illustrated in the form of U-shapedstaples S. Extending longitudinally `of the magazine are a pair of railsattached' to the bottom `wall thereof and constituting a core ,6, seeFigs. 5 and 8, on which .the staplesS aresupported in straddledrelationship, the vertical side plates 'i of the magazine being spacedfromthe rails and hav.e ing inwardly-directed ilanges 8 whichcoverliethe top ofthe staples S.. The rails constituting the core 5.projectiorwardly beyond the side yplates I of the magazine and into anopening at the bottom kof the casing 2.,..Dependinggfrom and integralkwith the forwardly-preisetingfends of the railsof the core` 6 arelaterally. offset' flanges 9 and lo, see- Figs.4 l and; 5 havingrearward shoulders engageab-le with'the iorwardedgexoi the bottom .wallof the casingpwith'their lower edges alining with the bottom Vof kthecasing. Projecting upwardly and forwardly from the side plates 'I of themagazine E are stanchionsl5 and I8 which overlie the top of the forwardend of the core 6 asshown in Fig, 5. Extending through suitableapertures in the stanchions |5 and i5 is a pivot-pin with itsendsprojecting therefrom for'mounting a U-shaped gate |B. The gate I8has a iront wall I9 and rearwardly and upwardly-extending side walls 26and 2| which embrace the front and sides of the forwardlyprojecting endsof the railsof the magazine-core E and the sides of the stanchions i5and H5.

The side walls 2i) and 2| of the gate 3 have vertically-extendingelongate slots 22 through which the pivot-pin Il projects, At theloweredges of the side walls 2S and 2l ofthe gate I8 are recesses or notches23 which are engageable with detent lugs 24 struck outwardly from theflanges S and Iii onl the forwardly-projecting ends or the rails of thecore The vpivot-pini? thus provides for rocking movement ci the-'gatefrom the clcsedpcsition illustratedin Fig. 2 to the open positionillustrated inFig.l 4, the elongate slots 22 permitting vertical slidingmovement of the-gate'to disengage `thenotches 23 from the lugsZli. Withthe gate I8 in closed pcsition on the magazineand the notches 23 vinengagement with the lugs 2t the front wall lil of core 6 a distanceequal to the thickness of a core by a spring-pressed pusher 26 toposition the foremost staple in the throat 25.

The staple-applying mechanism comprises a driver 3U attached to the endof a plunger 3| mounted for reciprocation in a guideway at the forwardside of the casing 2. The plunger 3| is normally latched in raisedposition as illustrated in Fig. 1 by a pivoted latch-member 32 and isadapted to be operated by a compression spring 33 when released by thelatch, Tho

. spring 33 is compressed by rocking movement the gate is spaced fromthe forward endlof the staple S to provide a throat 25therebetweenthrough which the staples are driven. The staples Sare-advanced along the magazinetrated in Fig. 3

of the handle l which is connected t0 a lever ."lflby a link 35.y Thelever 34 is pivoted to the casing 2 at its rearward ends and its forwardend is connected to the lower ends of the links 35 at the opposite sidesof the spring 33, the upper ends of the links being connected to across-pin 3T overlying a movable compression plate 38. The spring ispositioned between the compression plate 38 and the plunger 3| so thatrocking movement of the handle 4 in counterclockwise direction, asviewedin Fig.1, acts through the link 35, lever 34 and links.35` to`depress the plate 38 and compress the spring 3?. At theend of therocking movement;of'thehandle-lever 4 an abutment or pin 35| engages the.tail of thelatchmeinber- 32` and: rocks it in Vcou-nterclock-Wisedirection to release the plunger 3| which is-then actuated by thecompression spring 33 to vslide the driver 33 through the throat-2f5; v.Upon-re leasefofthehandle a rhair-pin-spring Ilm-acting between thecasing-2 and lever `34, see' Fig. l, is operabie to return thel partstoinitial position and a #similar spring v4|y returns' the-latch 32 intoengagement with .the plungerV 3|. `As thus far described the implementisfsubstantially-identicalwith thatillustrated and described .in theCavanagh patent vreferred to above,

Inaccordance withfthe; present invention a manually-operable lockingmember 50 is providedV for positively Vlocking the gate I3 againstvertical movement Atoprevent disengagement oiv the latchin-g detente 23and 2l-.- While zthe'locking member -il'may take other forms, as Ahereinillustrated it comprises aplatef-like element pivotally mounted on theextended end of the -pivotpin see Fig. 5.- The pivot pin` llhas-a headiillat one end which overlies the side ofthe locking member 50around'theaperturc through which the pin extends and the oppositereduoedend of the pin extends through a holein; a spring washer 52. Thereducedend of thepivot-pin I1 is riveted over the side of theV washerand the latter bears against theside 2| of the gate I8 to yieldinglyhold the head- 5| of the pin against the side ofthe locking members-all.

The locking-member-S has a-portion'oi its edge arranged eccentricallywithrespect to the axis of thepivot-pin Ail to provide-a lcam-'face 53adapted Jto-engage a shoulder tit-projecting laterally -from the side,28 ofthe lgate I8.` The arrangement of the eccentric cam-faceg53 of thelocking member i0 is such; as to lpermit the gate |3 `to be raisedvertically to the position illuswhen the locking member is rocked to oneposition andztodepress the gate to the position illustrated in Fig. l byengagement with the shoulder 54 whereby to rmly engage the notches 23with the detent-lugs 24 when the member is rocked to another position.`'Thus when the locking member is Yrocked to the position illustrated inr'g. i the `gate |8 is held positively against'vertical slidingmovement-to prevent disengagement of the notches 23 from the detent-lugs24 wherebyto lockthe-gate in closed position on the magazine. Thelocking member 55 is provided with a radial extension 55 and atail-piece 51 at opposite ends of the cam-edge portion 53 which areengageable with the sides of the shoulder 54 on the gate I8 to limit therocking movement of the member. The extension 55 has alaterally-extending fingergrip 55 to facilitate manual rocking movementof the member. A detent finger 53 projecting from the locking member 50has its end curved or bent laterally to adapt it to engage the side ofthe gate I8 when the locking member is rocked to the positionillustrated in Fig. 1. Ihe frictional engagement of the end of thedetent finger 58 with the side of the gate I8 is thus adapted to resistrocking movement of the locking member 50 whereby to prevent accidentalrelease of the gate. A preferred ferm of construction of the inventionhaving been described in detail its mode of operation is explained asfollows:

With the locking member 50 in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 theengagement of its camface 53 with the shoulder 54 on the gate I8 willpositively hold the latter depressed and prevent vertical slidingmovement thereof necessary to unlatch the notches 23 of the gate fromthe detent-lugs 24 on the magazine core 6. The implement may be operatedto apply the fasteners by depressing the handle-lever 4 which, operatingthrough the link 35, lever 34, links 3S and compression plate 38, willcompress the spring 33 until the latch 32 is released from the plunger3i by the engagement of the pin 39 therewith. Upon release of the latch32 the spring 33 will operate the plunger 3| and driver 3i) carriedthereby to slide the latter downwardly in the throat 25, A staple Spositioned in the throat 25 will thus be driven into the work. Uponrelease of the handle 4 the spring 49 will operate to rock the lever 34in counterclockwise direction t return the parts to their initialposition, the spring 4I will return the latch 32 into engagement withthe plunger 3I and the springpressed pusher 25 will advance the foremoststaple S into the throat 25. The operator may continue to operate theimplement in this manner until the supply of staples S in the magazineis exhausted.

To reload the implement with a supply of staples S the operator firstunlocks the gate i8 by pressing against the laterally-offset fingerpiece55 on the locking member 59 to rock the latter from the positionillustrated in Fig. 1 to that illustrated in Fig. 2, this rockingmovement of the member being limited by the engagement of its tail-piece5l with the side of the shoulder 54 on the gate I8. The gate I8 willthen be free fer vertical sliding movement to permit it to be raised tothe Position illustrated in Fig. 3 whereof to release the notches 23from engagement with the detent lugs 24. 'Ihe gate I8 may then be rockedto the position illustrated in Fig. 4 to open the forward end of themagazine to receive a supply of staples S. The staples S, preferably inthe form of a self-sustained stick or refill, are then inserted into themagazine 5 in straddled relationship on the core and the end of themagazine clcsed by rocking the gate IB back to the position illustratedin Fig. 3. The gate I8 is locked in closed position on the magazine byrocking the locking member 50 manually from the position illustrated inFig. 3 to that illustrated in Fig. 1. During such rocking movement ofthe member 55 its eccentric camface 53 will iii) engage thelaterally-offset shoulder 54 thereon and depress the gate IB to theposition illustrated in Fig. 1 to engage the notches 23 in the gate withthe detent lugs on the magazine-core 6. After the locking member hasbeen rocked to the position illustrated in Fig. l the eccentric edge 53will act to positively lock the gate I8 against vertical movement toprevent disengagement of the latching detents. It will also be observedthat the rocking movement of the locking member 53 to the positionillustrated in Fig, 1 acts to engage the friction detent finger 58 withthe side wall 2B of the gate I 8 to frictionally hold it in its lockingposition to prevent accidental or unintentional release of the gate.

It will be observed from the foregoing specification that the presentinvention provides for positively locking the gate in closed position onthe magazine to prevent unintentional opening of the latter duringoperation of the implement. It will also be observed that the lockingmeans of the present invention are of simple and compact constructionand adapted to act effectively to lock the gate in closed position whilefacilitating manual operation of the device to release the gate.

While a preferred form of construction of the invention is hereinillustrated and described, it is to be understood that modifications maybe made in the form and structure of the gate-locking means withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, withoutlimiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a fastener-applying implement, a magazine for holding a supply offasteners, fastenerapplying means for driving fasteners from themagazine, a gate mounted on the magazine for pivotal movement outwardlyand upwardly away from the front of the magazine and for verticalsliding movement in a plane parallel to the direction in which thefasteners are driven, said gate being adapted to pivot to open themagazine to receive a supply of fasteners and close the magazine toadapt fasteners to be driven therefrom, cooperating notch-and-lugdetents on the magazine and gate for releasably holding the latteragainst pivoting movement, and manually-operable means for holding thegate against vertical sliding movement whereby to positively lock thegate in closed position on the magazine.

2. In a fastener-applying implement, a magazine for holding a supply offasteners, fastenerapplying means for driving fasteners from themagazine, a gate mounted on the magazine for pivotal and verticalsliding movement, said gate being adapted to pivot to open the magazineto receive a supply of fasteners and close the magazine to adaptfasteners to be driven therefrom, cooperating detent means on themagazine and gate engageable upon vertical sliding movement of the gate,and a manually-operable cam for wedging engagement with the gate topositively hold the latter against vertical sliding movement to preventdisengagement of the detents.

3. In a fastener-applying implement, a magazine for holding a supply offasteners, fastenerapplying means for driving fasteners from themagagine. a gate mounted on the magazine for pivotal and verticalsliding movement,cooperating detents on the magazine and gate engageableupon vertical sliding movement of the latter, and a second pair ofcooperating detents on the magazine and gate for holding the latteragainst vertical sliding movement, said last-named detents comprising amanually-operable eccentric cam onLOne partengageable with a means on,the other part whereby to positively lock thegate in'closed position onthe magaz'me.

4. In a-fastener-'applying implement, a magazine for holding a lsupplyof fasteners,fastener applyingr means for driving -fastenersfrom themagazine, a gate mounted on rthe magazine for pivotal movement outwardlyand upwardly away from the frontv of the magazine and for verticalslidinglmovement in a plaine parallelto the direction'inwhichtheiasteners are'driven, said gate-being adaptedtopivottoopen the1nagazine to receive a Supply of fasteners' and close the magazine tovadapt fasteners to lbe driven therefrom,- loooperating notch-and-lugdetent means on `the magazine and'gate engageable upon-vertical slidingmovement of the latter, and a `movable member lhaving 4'a'czam--faoe-engageable with a portion of the gate for positively locking the'latter-against Vertical` sliding movement to --prevent'disengagementAof thedetent means.

Ina fastenereapplying implement,. amaga'l zine for holding a supply of.fasteners; fastener-- applyingY means for driving fasteners from'themagazine, Aa gate mounted `on the lmagazine for pivotal movementoutwardly and upwardly away from the front of the magazine and verticalslidlng movement in `aplane parallelto the direction in which thefasteners are driven, said gate being adapted to pivot to open themagazine to receive a supply of fasteners and close the magazine toadapt fasteners to `be driven therefrom'cooperating notoh-and-lug detentmeans on the magazineland gate V-engageable uponvverticalfslidingmovement of the latter, and anecoentric cam member engageable'wit-h theupper edge of the gate for positively locking the latter againstvertical sliding movement to prevent disengagement of the cooperatingdetent means, said' member having meansffriotionally `engageable withthe gate to resist movement of said member.

JOHN F. ClVAIWiGH.l

